Back in high school, I was actually a very poor math student, but I honestly had no idea. I still made A's and B's in my math classes, but that was with all of the curves and extra credit I received. As I attended the Air Force Academy Preparatory School, I realized how poor I was in math and took advantage of the free education provided to me and essentially the second chance I was afforded before I started college.
I went back to my old high school in the fall of 2013 and filled out an...
Back in high school, I was actually a very poor math student, but I honestly had no idea. I still made A's and B's in my math classes, but that was with all of the curves and extra credit I received. As I attended the Air Force Academy Preparatory School, I realized how poor I was in math and took advantage of the free education provided to me and essentially the second chance I was afforded before I started college.
I went back to my old high school in the fall of 2013 and filled out an application to become a volunteer. I got in contact with the head of the math department and she was delighted to have me volunteer my time. I started off tutoring 4-days-a-week (Mon-Thurs) for a total of 5 hours. I would go in on Tuesday and Thursday mornings on my way to school -to tutor Calculus-, and Mondays and Wednesdays on my way home from school- to tutor Algebra 1 and 2.
The wonderful teachers at Steele High School simply could not tutor 5 to 15 students at a time before or after school. When I was in attendance we were able to provide a better overall educational experience and there was a steep increase in the grades of students that attended tutoring as opposed to numbers in the past. I must reiterate that the teachers at Steele are incredible, but some students feel more comfortable coming and talking to me because I am closer to their age and can relate to their frustration with math. There is no greater feeling than to watch a student's face light up after they have truly grasped a concept that they have struggled with for the last couple of days.
Most days I think it's them that's doing me a favor. I learn just as much from the students as they learn from me. I am simply teaching them a skill, whereas they have taught me the intangibles of compassion and patience. I am grateful for the position I have been placed in and plan on continuing such "work" far into the future.
